Psalms 105

1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.

2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.

3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

4 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.

5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he has uttered,

6 O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

7 He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth.

8 He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,

9 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,

10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,

11 saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance."

12 When they were few in number, of little account, and strangers in it,

13 wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people,

14 he allowed no one to oppress them; he rebuked kings on their account,

15 saying, "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."

16 When he summoned famine against the land, and broke every staff of bread,

17 he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

18 His feet were hurt with fetters, his neck was put in a collar of iron;

19 until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord kept testing him.

20 The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free.

21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his possessions,

22 to instruct his officials at his pleasure, and to teach his elders wisdom.

23 Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham.

24 And the Lord made his people very fruitful, and made them stronger than their foes,

25 whose hearts he then turned to hate his people, to deal craftily with his servants.

26 He sent his servant Moses, and Aaron whom he had chosen.

27 They performed his signs among them, and miracles in the land of Ham.

28 He sent darkness, and made the land dark; they rebelled against his words.

29 He turned their waters into blood, and caused their fish to die.

30 Their land swarmed with frogs, even in the chambers of their kings.

31 He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country.

32 He gave them hail for rain, and lightning that flashed through their land.

33 He struck their vines and fig trees, and shattered the trees of their country.

34 He spoke, and the locusts came, and young locusts without number;

35 they devoured all the vegetation in their land, and ate up the fruit of their ground.

36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the first issue of all their strength.

37 Then he brought Israel out with silver and gold, and there was no one among their tribes who stumbled.

38 Egypt was glad when they departed, for dread of them had fallen upon it.

39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light by night.

40 They asked, and he brought quails, and gave them food from heaven in abundance.

41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.

42 For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham, his servant.

43 So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing.

44 He gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the wealth of the peoples,

45 that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Praise the Lord!

Psalms 105 Commentary

Chapter 105

A solemn call to praise and serve the Lord. (1-7) His gracious dealings with Israel. (8-23) Their deliverance from Egypt, and their settlement in Canaan. (24-45)

Verses 1-7 Our devotion is here stirred up, that we may stir up ourselves to praise God. Seek his strength; that is, his grace; the strength of his Spirit to work in us that which is good, which we cannot do but by strength derived from him, for which he will be sought. Seek to have his favour to eternity, therefore continue seeking it while living in this world; for he will not only be found, but he will reward those that diligently seek him.

Verses 8-23 Let us remember the Redeemer's marvellous works, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth. Though true Christians are few number, strangers and pilgrims upon earth, yet a far better inheritance than Canaan is made sure to them by the covenant of God; and if we have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, none can do us any harm. Afflictions are among our mercies. They prove our faith and love, they humble our pride, they wean us from the world, and quicken our prayers. Bread is the staff which supports life; when that staff is broken, the body fails and sinks to the earth. The word of God is the staff of spiritual life, the food and support of the soul: the sorest judgment is a famine of hearing the word of the Lord. Such a famine was sore in all lands when Christ appeared in the flesh; whose coming, and the blessed effect of it, are shadowed forth in the history of Joseph. At the appointed time Christ was exalted as Mediator; all the treasures of grace and salvation are at his disposal, perishing sinners come to him, and are relieved by him.

Verses 24-45 As the believer commonly thrives best in his soul when under the cross; so the church also flourishes most in true holiness, and increases in number, while under persecution. Yet instruments shall be raised up for their deliverance, and plagues may be expected by persecutors. And see the special care God took of his people in the wilderness. All the benefits bestowed on Israel as a nation, were shadows of spiritual blessings with which we are blessed in Christ Jesus. Having redeemed us with his blood, restored our souls to holiness, and set us at liberty from Satan's bondage, he guides and guards us all the way. He satisfies our souls with the bread of heaven, and the water of life from the Rock of salvation, and will bring us safely to heaven. He redeems his servants from all iniquity, and purifies them unto himself, to be a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Footnotes

• [a]. Another reading is [Israel] (compare 1 Chr 16.13)
• [b]. Gk Syr Jerome: Heb [to bind]
• [c]. Cn Compare Gk Syr: Heb [they did not rebel]
• [d]. Heb [them]

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 105

This psalm was penned by David, and sung at the time when the ark was brought from the house of Obededom to the place which David had prepared for it; at least the first fifteen verses of it, the other part being probably added afterwards by the same inspired penman, as appears from 1Ch 16:1-7. The subject matter of the psalm is the special and distinguishing goodness of God to the children of Israel, and to his church and people, of which they were typical: the history of God's regard to and care of their principal ancestors, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and of the whole body of the people, in bringing them out of Egypt, leading them through the wilderness, and settling them in the land of Canaan, is here recited, as an argument for praise and thankfulness.